﻿            
    

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
        "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">

<head>
						    <script type="text/javascript" >
	    					document.domain = "guardian.co.uk";
				</script>
			    		    <title> CD review: Akon: Freedom | Music | The Guardian </title>

    
    				<!------ OAS SETUP begin ------>
		<script type="text/javascript">
			//<![CDATA[
				OAS_url = 'http://oas.guardian.co.uk/RealMedia/ads/';
				OAS_sitepage = window.location.hostname + window.location.pathname + "/oas.html";
				OAS_listpos = 'Top,Middle2,Right1,x31';

								OAS_query = 'k=popandrock&k=culture&k=r-and-b&k=music&k=urban&k=akon&cf=pop+music&pid=&ct=article&pt=article&';
				OAS_target = '_blank';

				OAS_rn = '001234567890';
				OAS_rns = '1234567890';
				OAS_rn = new String (Math.random());
				OAS_rns = OAS_rn.substring (2, 11);
			//]]>
		</script>
	        			<script type="text/javascript">
		//<![CDATA[
											function OAS_NORMAL(pos) {
							document.write('<A HREF="' + OAS_url + 'click_nx.ads/' + OAS_sitepage + '/1' + OAS_rns + '@' + pos + '!' + pos + '?' + OAS_query + '" TARGET=' + OAS_target + '>');
							document.write('<IMG SRC="' + OAS_url + 'adstream_nx.ads/' + OAS_sitepage + '/1' + OAS_rns + '@' + pos + '!' + pos + '?' + OAS_query + '" BORDER=0></A>');
						}

						OAS_version = 11;
						if ((navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/3') != -1) || (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/4.0 WebTV') != -1)) OAS_version = 10;
						if (OAS_version >= 11) document.write('<SCR' + 'IPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript1.1 SRC="' + OAS_url + 'adstream_mjx.ads/' + OAS_sitepage + '/1' + OAS_rns + '@' + OAS_listpos + '?' + OAS_query + '"><\/SCRIPT>');

						function OAS_AD(pos) {
							if (OAS_version >= 11) OAS_RICH(pos);
							else OAS_NORMAL(pos);
						}
					
				//]]>
				</script>
				<!------ OAS SETUP end ------>
	

    	    





		
										

        


<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
<link rel="canonical" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom" />
			<meta name="description" content="Despite his hip-hop roots and the presence of guest rappers, it's Akon's buoyant pop sensibility that prevails" />
			
			<meta name="DC.date.issued" content="2008-11-28">
		
<meta name="keywords" content="Akon,Urban music,Pop and rock,Music,Culture,R&B,Music" />
	<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />





	<!-- short url for this page http://gu.com/p/2349x -->
        	<link href="http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/music/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Music RSS feed" />
			<link href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/akon/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Akon RSS feed" />
			<link href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/urban/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Urban music RSS feed" />
			<link href="http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/music/popandrock/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Pop and rock RSS feed" />
			<link href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/r-and-b/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="R&B RSS feed" />
		<link href="http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/culture/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Culture RSS feed" />
	


    <script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
	if (!commonStaticRoot) {	
		var commonStaticRoot = "http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/";
	}
	if (!sectionStaticRoot) {	
		var sectionStaticRoot = "http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/music/";
	}
	if (!staticHost) {	
		var staticHost="http://www.guardian.co.uk/";
	}
	if (!sitePrefixUrl) {
		var sitePrefixUrl = "http://www.guardian.co.uk";
	}
//]]>
</script>
	  		<link rel="alternate stylesheet" title="No layout" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/no-layout.css" media="screen" class="contrast" id="no-layout-sheet" />

					<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/article-top.css" media="screen" />
			<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/print.css" media="print" class="contrast" />
		
		<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/zones/culture/styles/zone-accent.css" media="screen" class="contrast" />
		
			<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/base-typography.css" media="screen" />


			

		<!--[if ie 7]>
		    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/ie7.css" media="screen" class="ie" />
		<![endif]-->
		
		<!--[if ie 8]>
			<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/ie8.css" media="screen" class="ie" />
		<![endif]-->
		
		<!--[if lte IE 6]>
			<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/ie-scratch.css" media="screen" class="ie" />
    		<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/zones/culture/styles/zone-navigation-ie.css" media="screen" class="contrast" />
		<![endif]-->
		
		<!--[if lte IE 9]>
			<script src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/external-scripts/html5enable.js"></script>
		<![endif]-->
		
	<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://combo.guim.co.uk/104477/content-actions+factbox+gu-now+header-local-info+latest-reviews+page-toolbox+related-keywords+top-navigation+top-navigation-drop-down.css" media="screen" />
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://combo.guim.co.uk/104477/m-482~public/css/jobs-box-4+m-87~styles/simplelightbox+m-87~styles/twitter-app+m-963~related-information/static/related-information-5.css" media="screen" />
    	<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/article-page-typography.css" media="screen" />
    
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.4.2/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') {
    document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/external-scripts/jquery-1.4.2.min.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
}
</script>

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/external-scripts/jquery-libraries/jquery.cookie.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
 var jQ = jQuery.noConflict();
</script> 

<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
	function insertStyleSheet(href) {
		var styleObject = document.createElement('link');
		styleObject.setAttribute('href', commonStaticRoot + href);
		styleObject.setAttribute('type', 'text/css');
		styleObject.setAttribute('media', 'screen');
		styleObject.setAttribute('rel', 'stylesheet');
		var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];
		head.appendChild(styleObject);
	}
	insertStyleSheet('styles/js-on.css');
	insertPluckStylesheet = true;
	//]]>
</script>
<script src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/scripts/gu-core.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
	function init() {
		urlStack.clearUrlStack();
		var signOutLink = document.getElementById("sign-out");
		if (signOutLink) {
			signOutLink.onclick = signOut;
		}
	}

    guardian.r2.resourceRoot = "http://resource.guim.co.uk/";
    var pageUrl = "http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom";
    var pageSignature =  "ff486a9bceb9700134a14f4dac7a9a91f103c945dfa3ac819a441daf168e947e";
    
	var thirdPartyReferralCookieService = new guardian.r2.ThirdPartyReferralCookieService();
	thirdPartyReferralCookieService.setThirdPartyReferralCookie();
		
	var urlStack = new UrlStack(".guardian.co.uk");	
	var communitiesSite = false;
	
    
		
	guardian.r2.signInListeners = new guardian.r2.SignInListeners();
    (function () {	
		var signInView = new guardian.r2.SignInView("http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/scripts/md5.js", communitiesSite);
		guardian.r2.signInController = new guardian.r2.SignInController(signInView, guardian.r2.signInListeners, "http://www.guardian.co.uk/tools/signin", pageUrl, pageSignature);
		
	}) ();
	
	(function () {
		var profileLinkView = new guardian.r2.ProfileLinkView();
		profileLinkController = new guardian.r2.ProfileLinkController(profileLinkView, "http://www.guardian.co.uk/discussion/user/");
	}) ();

	addSafeLoadEvent(init);
	//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://combo.guim.co.uk/104477/common/scripts/convertJSONtoAd+common/scripts/formChecker+common/scripts/glossaryPopupView+common/scripts/sendtoafriend+common/scripts/shareCounts+common/scripts/tweet_button.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://combo.guim.co.uk/104477/m-87~js/simplelightbox+m-87~js/simplelightbox-init.js"></script>
				        <script type="text/javascript" src="/cm_lib_compressed.js"></script>
																				<script>
																MatchingEngine.setup('guardian_articles');
												</script>
													
</head>



<body class="	article  ">

<div id="wrapper">
		        		
	<div id="header">
	
		    			<div id="sub-header">
			
							    		


	
						
			
		
										
												
												
												
												
												
												
												
												
								
		
	
<div id="fake-bar"></div>
<div class="top-navigation twelve-col initially-off">

	<div class="user-functions">
		<div id="video-settings">
    <div class="cookied">
        <p class="on"><a class="autoplay-off" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay off</a></p>
        <p class="off"><a class="autoplay-on" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay on</a></p>
    </div>
    <div class="not-cookied">
        <p>Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off</p>
    </div>
</div>

<div id="skiplinks">
	<ul>
		<li><a href="#box" accesskey="s">Jump to content [s]</a></li>
				<li><a href="#global-nav" accesskey="0">Jump to site navigation [0]</a></li>
		<li><a href="#web-search-field" accesskey="4">Jump to search [4]</a></li>
		<li><a href="http://guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933909,00.html" accesskey="8">Terms and conditions [8]</a></li>
	</ul>
</div>		        	
    
               
    
    
        
    
    
    

<div class="user-details">
    
        <span><a href="http://m.guardian.co.uk" class="register-required">Mobile site</a></span>
    <span><a class="same-page-login-required" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/identity/signin?returnUrl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom&sig=ff486a9bceb9700134a14f4dac7a9a91f103c945dfa3ac819a441daf168e947e">Sign in</a></span>
    <span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/identity/register?returnUrl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom&sig=ff486a9bceb9700134a14f4dac7a9a91f103c945dfa3ac819a441daf168e947e" class="register-required">Register</a></span>
        
</div>

<span id="larger" class="first">Text <a href="/help/accessibility">larger</a></span>
<span class="middot">&middot;</span>
<span id="smaller"><a href="/help/accessibility">smaller</a></span>
					<div id="drop-down-1" class="drop-down">
					<h2>
		
	        About us
    </h2>
			<ul class="initially-off">
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/information/0,,711853,00.html"  class="link-text">About us</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/gu_contacts/0,,180767,00.html"  class="link-text">Contact us</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/gnm-press-office"  class="link-text">Press office</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/gpc"  class="link-text">Guardian Print Centre</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/page/readerseditor"  class="link-text">Guardian readers' editor</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/observer-readers-editor"  class="link-text">Observer readers' editor</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/terms-of-service"  class="link-text">Terms of service</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/privacy-policy"  class="link-text">Privacy policy</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/advertising"  class="link-text">Advertising guide</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/archive"  class="link-text">Digital archive</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://guardian.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx"  class="link-text">Digital edition</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekly"  class="link-text">Guardian Weekly</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://3276.e-printphoto.co.uk/guardian"  class="link-text">Buy Guardian and Observer photos</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/subscription-services"  class="link-text">Subscribe</a>
    </li>
					
					</ul>
		</div>
		</div>
	
	<div class="other-functions">
							<div id="drop-down-2" class="drop-down mirror">
					<h2>
		
	        Today's paper
    </h2>
			<ul class="initially-off">
							    

	
				
		
		
	
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian"  class="link-text">The Guardian</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/g2"  class="link-text">G2 features</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/mainsection/commentanddebate"  class="link-text">Comment and debate</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/mainsection/editorialsandreply"  class="link-text">Editorials, letters and corrections</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/obituaries"  class="link-text">Obituaries</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/series/otherlives"  class="link-text">Other lives</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/sport"  class="link-text">Sport</a>
    </li>
					
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/subscription-services"  class="link-text">Subscribe</a>
    </li>
					
					</ul>
		</div>
						<div id="drop-down-3" class="drop-down mirror">
					<h2>
		
	        Zeitgeist
    </h2>
			<ul class="initially-off">
							    

																																										
				
		
		
			
						
		<li>
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/zeitgeist"  class="link-text">Today's hot topics</a>
    </li>
					
					</ul>
		</div>
		</div>
		
</div>


<script type="text/javascript">
	ensurePackage('guardian.r2');

	guardian.r2.dropDownMenu = function () {
	
		// bar set up
		jQ('.top-navigation').show().addClass('top-navigation-js');
		jQ('#fake-bar').remove();

		// functionality
		jQ('.drop-down').mouseover(function() {
			jQ(this).find('ul').css('display', 'block');
		});

		jQ('.drop-down').mouseout(function() {
			jQ(this).find('ul').css('display', 'none');
		});

	};	
	
	jQ(document).ready(function() {
		var myDropDownMenu = new guardian.r2.dropDownMenu();
	});
</script>

		

			
						
    
		
		<div id="Top" class=" hide-on-popup">

		
            
                        										        	<script>
			//<![CDATA[
			OAS_AD('Top');
			//]]>
		</script>
    				                    
        </div>

		</div>
	
		
					    


	<div id="guardian-logo">
					<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/zones/culture/images/logo.gif" height="22" width="140" alt="guardian.co.uk home" /></a>
					</div>
					
		
			
					
	<form id="searchbeta" method="get" action="http://www.guardian.co.uk/search" onsubmit="return searchWeb('http://www.guardian.co.uk/websearch', 'http://www.guardian.co.uk/search', 'http://www.guardian.co.uk/discussion/search/comments/');" >
		<input type="text" name="q" placeholder="Your search terms..."/>
		 <select name="section" id="gu-site-search" style="z-index: 0 !important;">
							<option value="" id="search-guardian">guardian.co.uk</option>
													        <option value="music" id="search-section" selected="selected">Music</option>
			    			            <option value="search-contributions" id="search-contributions">User comments</option>
			<option value="web" id="search-web">Web</option>
		</select>
		<input type="submit" value="Search" />
	</form>
				
				
		<div id="zones-nav">
							    

	<div id="global-nav">
		<ul>
			
																								<li class="first news">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk" >News</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="sport">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport" >Sport</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="comment">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree" >Comment</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="culture">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture" >Culture</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="business">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business" >Business</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="money">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money" >Money</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="life-and-style">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle" >Life &amp; style</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="travel">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel" >Travel</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="environment">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment" >Environment</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="culture">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio" >TV</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="global">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/blog" >Blogs</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="news">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/data" >Data</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="global">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/apps" >Mobile</a>
					</li>
							
																			<li class="">
						<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/shopping?INTCMP=ILCROFFTXT2094" >Offers</a>
					</li>
							
																								<li class="last ">
						<a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/" >Jobs</a>
					</li>
									</ul>
	</div>


										    
	
	            
                            


<div class="crumb-wrapper">

            <ul class="crumb-nav">
                            <li id="crumb1">
                    <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture">Culture</a>
                </li>
                            <li id="crumb2">
                    <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music">Music</a>
                </li>
                            <li id="crumb3">
                    <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/akon">Akon</a>
                </li>
                    </ul>
    
    
</div>

					</div>
				
						    	    





		
										

        

	</div>



<div id="box"
																					itemscope itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/Review"
	>

 	    



        




<div id="article-header">

                


    
        	    





		
										

        


                


	    

	






 	
     	
 	
 	<div id="main-article-info">
 		
					
				
			<h1
																																		itemprop="itemreviewed"
								>Akon: Freedom</h1>
				
					<p id="stand-first"
																																		itemprop="summary"
							>(Island)</p>
		
					    


	<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
		if (guardian.r2.browser.isIE6) {
			var forceWidth = 68;
			var forceHeight = 13;
		}
	//]]>
	</script>

	<div class="rating-container">
											<img class="rating rating-3" alt="3 out of 5" width="68" height="13" 
											src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/star-ratings/content/3.png"
									 />
																														<span itemprop="rating" style="display: none;">3</span>
										</div>

				
  	</div>
  	
  	  	<ul id="content-actions" class="share-links">
		                    
    
	
		
													

        
        
    <li class="share-links">
        <ul>
    
			
			
	
	<li class="full-line tweet tweet_button">
												<a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://gu.com/p/2349x/tw" data-via="guardian" data-counturl="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom" data-related="guardianmusic" data-text="CD review: Akon: Freedom">Tweet this</a>
	</li>
	
	<li class="third-party-tool full-line facebook">
	    <a name="fb_share"></a>
	    <script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>
	</li>	
	
    
    	
	<li class="third-party-tool last-line reddit">
	    <a class="reddit" href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" title="Submit to reddit"
	     onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Reddit')} return false;" >
		<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/images/icon_reddit.gif" alt="Reddit" />
	    </a>
	</li>
	
			<li class="third-party-tool last-line buzz">
			<a title="Buzz up" id="share-link-buzz" href="http://uk.buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?publisherurn=the_guardian665&targetUrl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom&summary=%3Cp%3EDespite+his+hip-hop+roots+and+the+presence+of+guest+rappers%2C+it%27s+Akon%27s+buoyant+pop+sensibility+that+prevails%3C%2Fp%3E&headline= CD review: Akon: Freedom | Music | The Guardian "
			 onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Buzz');} return false;" >
			<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/styles/images/icon_buzz.gif" alt="Buzz up" />
			</a>	
		</li>
		
            </ul>
    </li>
    
        

                	
        
        </ul>
		
		        </div>


<div id="content">

								
    				
                
                
    
                




<ul class="article-attributes">
	        <li>
        	<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/carolinesullivan">
        		<img class="contributor-pic-small" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/caroline_sullivan_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="Caroline Sullivan" title="Contributor picture" />
        	</a>
        </li>
            	<li id="contrib-shift"><ul>
        		<li class="byline">
					                        	        	        	            <a class='contributor' href='http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/carolinesullivan'>
	            																										<span itemprop='reviewer'>Caroline Sullivan</span></a>
				</li>
	

		   	
                      	
          <li class="publication">        
			<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" >The Guardian</a>,			
																													
			       			<time itemprop="dtreviewed" datetime="2008-11-28" pubdate>Friday 28 November 2008</time>				        
        </li> 
		
	
		
		
			</ul></li>
	</ul>
    
        	    





		
										

        


    
        
        

        <div id="article-wrapper"
            																	                             itemprop="description"
                    data-global-auto-refresh-switch="on">
        		
        	
    <div id="article-body-blocks">
	    			



<div class="factbox-container">

    
    
		   		 <div class="factbox amazon_recorded_music_pop_rock">
                                


	<h2 class="amazon-header">Buy it from <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/amazon-factbox.gif" alt="amazon.co.uk" /></h2>


<ol class="affiliated">
				<li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001KVWERU?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=guardianreviews-21&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1634&amp;creativeASIN=B001KVWERU">Buy the CD</a></li>
					<li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001N26WUG?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=guardianreviews-21&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1634&amp;creativeASIN=B001N26WUG">Download as MP3</a></li>
	
			<li class="picture amazon"><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2009/8/18/1250605837495/-Akon-Freedom.jpg" alt="" width="140" height="140" /></li>
	
						<li class="major-heading"><b>
		
			 Akon</b></li>
							<li><b>
		
			Freedom</b></li>
														<li class="inline">
		
			Island Records Group</li>
														<li>
		
			2008</li>
	
</ol>


            
                                        		</div>
		    
</div><p>A man with an eye for an opportunity, Akon has lent his plaintive vocals to songs by everyone from Gwen Stefani to Michael Jackson, selling 8m of his own two albums along the way. Freedom preserves the populist catchiness of its predecessors, Trouble and Konvicted, but while they addressed his former hard-knock life and reaction to fame, this one is almost entirely dedicated to his ladyfriends. Akon idealises them, especially the ones who, implausibly, have failed to enjoy life as the Wag of an A-list R&amp;B star and walked out. "Wanna make love right now, now, no/ Wish we never broke up," he mourns on the infuriatingly moreish Right Now. But most of the women in the songs are pushovers for his charm, which is considerable. Despite his hip-hop roots and the presence of guest rappers such as Lil Wayne, it's Akon's buoyant pop sensibility that prevails.</p>
    </div>

		
            	    





		
										

        


        </div>

    
    
    
</div>

		
<div id="related">
		
						
		    		
		
		





	<ul id="article-toolbox-side">
	

							<li class="printable"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon" /><span>Printable version</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a class="rollover send-email" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/1125091"  title="Opens an email form" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_email-friend.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Send to a friend</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a class="rollover send-share"   href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/share/1125091" title="Opens a share this page in a new window" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_share.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Share</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add?r2PageId=1125091" id="clippable" title="Sends this page to your clippings file" class="rollover anchor-based-login-required package-required-YCLD" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_clip.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Clip</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/contactus/1125091"  class="rollover contact-link" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk"><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_email-us.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Contact us</span></a></li>
		
		
			<li class="resize">
			
			<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_font.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" />
			<a href="/help/accessibility" id="larger-sidebar" title="Increase text size">larger</a> | 
			<a href="/help/accessibility" id="smaller-sidebar" title="Decrease text size">smaller</a>		</li>
	
	
    
    
</ul>

	    


<div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-email-box">
	<div class="send-inner">
		<div class="share-top">
			<h3>Email</h3>
			<span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#send-email">Close</a></span>
		</div>
		<div>
		
				        	       		        
	        			<form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis" action="http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/1125091">
			
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="to">Recipient's email address</label>
					</div>
					<input type="text" name="to" maxlength="64" value="" />
									</fieldset>
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="name">Your first name</label>
					</div>
				   <input type="text" name="firstName" maxlength="64" value="" />
				</fieldset>
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="name">Your surname</label>
					</div>
				   <input type="text" name="surname" maxlength="64" value="" />
				   				</fieldset>
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="note">Add a note (optional)</label>
						<br /><span id="warning-side"></span>
					</div>
				   <textarea name="note" cols="25" rows="5" onkeyup="formCheckerSide(this,250)"></textarea>
				</fieldset>
				<div class="inputrow">
					<input type="submit" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Email', true)}"  value="Send" />
				</div>
				<p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p>
			</form>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
	    


<div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-share-box">
    <div class="send-inner">
    <div class="share-top">
            <h3>Share</h3>
            <span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#send-share-box">Close</a></span>
    </div>
    	
			<div class="shortlink">
			Short link for this page: 
			<a rel="shortlink nofollow" href="http://gu.com/p/2349x">
				 http://gu.com/p/2349x
			</a>
		</div>
			   <ul>
        <li><a class="digg" href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{Digg}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Digg');} return false;" >Digg</a></li>
      <li>
        <a class="reddit" href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{reddit}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Reddit');} return false;" >reddit</a>
      </li>
       <li>
        <a class="google" href="http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&amp;bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Google Bookmarks');} return false;" >Google Bookmarks</a>
      </li>
        <li>
            <a class="twitter" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fgu.com%2Fp%2F2349x%2Ftw" name="lid={share}{Twitter}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Twitter');} return false;" >Twitter</a>
        </li>
      <li>
        <a class="delicious" href="http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'del.icio.us');} return false;" >del.icio.us</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="stumbleupon" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Stumbleupon');} return false;" >StumbleUpon</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="newsvine" href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed&amp;save?popoff=0&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;h=Akon%3A+Freedom" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Newsvine');} return false;" >Newsvine</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="livejournal" href="http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" name="lid={share}{livejournal}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Livejournal');} return false;" >livejournal</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" name="lid={share}{Facebook}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Facebook');} return false;" >Facebook</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="mixx" href="http://www.mixx.com/submit?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" name="lid={share}{Mixx}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Mixx');} return false;" >Mixx it!</a>
      </li>
   </ul>
   <div class="clear"></div>
   </div>
</div>
	    

<div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact-link-box">
	<div class="send-inner">
		<div class="share-top">
			<h3>Contact us</h3>
            <span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#contact">Close</a></span>
		</div>
		
		<div class="col first">
						<ul>
															<li>
														
		
	        Contact the Music editor<br><a href="mailto:music.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk">music.editor@<br>guardianunlimited.co.uk</a>
    													</li>
													<li>
					                        Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="mailto:reader@guardian.co.uk">reader@guardian.co.uk</a>
                    				</li>
				<li>
											Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="mailto:letters@guardian.co.uk">letters@guardian.co.uk</a>
									</li>
			</ul>
		</div>
		<div class="col">
			<ul>
				<li>
					If you need help using the site: <a href="mailto:userhelp@guardian.co.uk">userhelp@guardian.co.uk</a>
				</li>
				<li>
					Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br /><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span>
				</li>
				<li>
					<ul>
						<li>
							<a href="http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a>
						</li>
						<li>
							<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/syndication/">License/buy our content</a>
						</li>
					</ul>
				</li>
			</ul>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
	    	    





		
										

        




	    			                    
    
	
		
											
		



    
	<div class="related-keywords">
	
					
					<h4 class="b4 t6"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music" >Music</a></h4>
		
	    						<ul>
						<li>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/akon"  rel="tag">Akon</a> &middot;															</li>
								<li>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/urban"  rel="tag">Urban music</a> &middot;															</li>
								<li>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/popandrock"  rel="tag">Pop and rock</a> &middot;															</li>
								<li>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/r-and-b"  rel="tag">R&B</a> 															</li>
				</ul>
										
					<h4 class="b3 t6"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture" >Culture</a></h4>
		
	    			
	
			

																						<p class="t6 b4"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/albumreview" >More 			album reviews
	</a></p>
																				<p class="t6 b4"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/reviews" >More 			reviews
	</a></p>
														
				
	
</div>


	    							
		    

				
		    	    





		
										

        		
		
												
										
						
											    <div class="related-content">
    
    <div class="bd">
        <div class="two-col edge">
            <p class="b4 t6">See also</p>
            <ul class="l1d" id="guardian_articles"></ul>
            <ul id="guardian_articles_default" class="l1d initially-off">

                <li>
                    <p class="t6 web-publication-date">23 May 2009</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/may/23/kleerup-agnes-plugs-shontelle-akon-tv-radio?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Pete Cashmore's new releases review</a>
                    </p>
                </li><li>
                    <p class="t6 web-publication-date">28 Nov 2008</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-interview-new-album?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">The truth will set you free</a>
                    </p>
                </li><li>
                    <p class="t6 web-publication-date">10 Feb 2007</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/feb/10/popandrock.features16?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">New releases</a>
                    </p>
                </li><li>
                    <p class="t6 web-publication-date">5 May 2007</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/may/05/popandrock.features162?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">New releases</a>
                    </p>
                </li>

            </ul>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>  
  
									
							        


		    






				    							
																																									
	
</div>



	
		
    		
		
		





	<ul id="article-toolbox">


							<li class="printable"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon" /><span>Printable version</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a class="rollover send-email" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/1125091"  title="Opens an email form" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_email-friend.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Send to a friend</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a class="rollover send-share"   href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/share/1125091" title="Opens a share this page in a new window" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_share.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Share</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add?r2PageId=1125091" id="clippable" title="Sends this page to your clippings file" class="rollover anchor-based-login-required package-required-YCLD" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_clip.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Clip</span></a></li>
		
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/contactus/1125091"  class="rollover contact-link" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk"><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_email-us.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Contact us</span></a></li>
		
			<li class="article-history"><a href="#" title="View the history of this article" class="rollover history-link" ><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/icon_history.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon" /><span>Article history</span></a></li>
		
	
	
    
    
</ul>

	    


<div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-email-box">
	<div class="send-inner">
		<div class="share-top">
			<h3>Email</h3>
			<span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#send-email">Close</a></span>
		</div>
		<div>
		
				        	       		        
	        			<form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis" action="http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/1125091">
			
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="to">Recipient's email address</label>
					</div>
					<input type="text" name="to" maxlength="64" value="" />
									</fieldset>
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="name">Your first name</label>
					</div>
				   <input type="text" name="firstName" maxlength="64" value="" />
				</fieldset>
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="name">Your surname</label>
					</div>
				   <input type="text" name="surname" maxlength="64" value="" />
				   				</fieldset>
				<fieldset>
					<div>
						<label for="note">Add a note (optional)</label>
						<br /><span id="warning-side"></span>
					</div>
				   <textarea name="note" cols="25" rows="5" onkeyup="formCheckerSide(this,250)"></textarea>
				</fieldset>
				<div class="inputrow">
					<input type="submit" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Email', true)}"  value="Send" />
				</div>
				<p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p>
			</form>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
	    


<div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-share-box">
    <div class="send-inner">
    <div class="share-top">
            <h3>Share</h3>
            <span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#send-share-box">Close</a></span>
    </div>
    	
			<div class="shortlink">
			Short link for this page: 
			<a rel="shortlink nofollow" href="http://gu.com/p/2349x">
				 http://gu.com/p/2349x
			</a>
		</div>
			   <ul>
        <li><a class="digg" href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{Digg}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Digg');} return false;" >Digg</a></li>
      <li>
        <a class="reddit" href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{reddit}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Reddit');} return false;" >reddit</a>
      </li>
       <li>
        <a class="google" href="http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&amp;bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Google Bookmarks');} return false;" >Google Bookmarks</a>
      </li>
        <li>
            <a class="twitter" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fgu.com%2Fp%2F2349x%2Ftw" name="lid={share}{Twitter}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Twitter');} return false;" >Twitter</a>
        </li>
      <li>
        <a class="delicious" href="http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'del.icio.us');} return false;" >del.icio.us</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="stumbleupon" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;title=Akon%3A+Freedom" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Stumbleupon');} return false;" >StumbleUpon</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="newsvine" href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed&amp;save?popoff=0&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom&amp;h=Akon%3A+Freedom" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Newsvine');} return false;" >Newsvine</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="livejournal" href="http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" name="lid={share}{livejournal}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Livejournal');} return false;" >livejournal</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" name="lid={share}{Facebook}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Facebook');} return false;" >Facebook</a>
      </li>
      <li>
        <a class="mixx" href="http://www.mixx.com/submit?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fmusic%2F2008%2Fnov%2F28%2Fakon-freedom" name="lid={share}{Mixx}" onclick="if(true) {omnitureTrackShareLinks(this, 'Mixx');} return false;" >Mixx it!</a>
      </li>
   </ul>
   <div class="clear"></div>
   </div>
</div>
	    

<div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact-link-box">
	<div class="send-inner">
		<div class="share-top">
			<h3>Contact us</h3>
            <span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#contact">Close</a></span>
		</div>
		
		<div class="col first">
						<ul>
															<li>
														
		
	        Contact the Music editor<br><a href="mailto:music.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk">music.editor@<br>guardianunlimited.co.uk</a>
    													</li>
													<li>
					                        Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="mailto:reader@guardian.co.uk">reader@guardian.co.uk</a>
                    				</li>
				<li>
											Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="mailto:letters@guardian.co.uk">letters@guardian.co.uk</a>
									</li>
			</ul>
		</div>
		<div class="col">
			<ul>
				<li>
					If you need help using the site: <a href="mailto:userhelp@guardian.co.uk">userhelp@guardian.co.uk</a>
				</li>
				<li>
					Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br /><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span>
				</li>
				<li>
					<ul>
						<li>
							<a href="http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a>
						</li>
						<li>
							<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/syndication/">License/buy our content</a>
						</li>
					</ul>
				</li>
			</ul>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
	    <div class="toolbox-popup" id="history-link-box" style="width: 460px">
	<div class="send-inner">
		<div class="share-top">
			<h3>About this article</h3>
            <span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#history-link-box">Close</a></span>
		</div>
		        	        			
						  			  		   		   	   	   
									
						
																	
 			<div class="section">
				<h1>CD review: Akon: Freedom</h1>
		   		    			    									   	This article appeared  on p14 of the <a href=http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/nov/28/filmandmusic  >Film & music</a> section of 					   	<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian"  >the Guardian</a>
					   	on <time datetime="2008-11-28" pubdate><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/nov/28">Friday 28 November 2008</a></time>.
					   	It was published on
							<a href='http://www.guardian.co.uk/'>guardian.co.uk</a>
							at <time datetime="2008-11-28T00:00GMT" pubdate>11.59 GMT on Friday 28 November 2008</time>.
					   	It was last modified at <time datetime="2009-08-19T14:55BST">14.55 BST on Wednesday 19 August 2009</time>.
						 It was first published at <time datetime="2008-11-28T00:17">00.17 GMT on Friday 28 November 2008</time>. 				   								</div>
			</div>
</div>




  	    	    





		
										

        		
		
												
										
						
											                    
    
	
		
											

	
    
		
		<div id="Middle2" class=" hide-on-popup">

		
            
                        										        	<script>
			//<![CDATA[
			OAS_AD('Middle2');
			//]]>
		</script>
    				                    
        </div>



									
							        		
		
												
										
						
											                    
    
	
		
											

	<div id="advertiser-container">
							
	
	
			<script type="text/javascript">

google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js';
google_ad_channel = 'music';
</script>

    	    





		
										

        


<script>

google_max_num_ads = '3';

</script>
			    				<div id="google-ads-container" class="eight-col edge component advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div>
		<script type="text/javascript">
		//<![CDATA[
			if (true) {
					  writeScript("http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js", false, function(){});
			}
		// ]]>
		</script>
		
	
			</div>

									
							        

	    

</div>

	<div id="promo">
				<!-- this is the third column -->
	    	    





		
										

        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
											
    
		
		<div id="Right1" class=" hide-on-popup">

		
            
                        										        	<script>
			//<![CDATA[
			OAS_AD('Right1');
			//]]>
		</script>
    				                    
        </div>


									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											    <style>
  .m-zeitgeist .bd { float: left } /* for the IE6 lols */
  .m-zeitgeist .hd { padding-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: -12px}
  .m-zeitgeist .hd h2 { padding-bottom: 12px; }
  .m-zeitgeist #att-panes { background-color: #fff; float: left; }
	.m-zeitgeist .att-toggle-pane { min-width:280px; }
  .m-zeitgeist ol { padding: 0 5px; }
  .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist ol { padding-left: 0; }
  .m-zeitgeist .zg-date { color: #D61D00; padding-left:5px; padding-top: 5px; }
  .m-zeitgeist ol li { clear: both; padding-left: 15px; }
  .m-zeitgeist div#att-most-viewed ol li.l1,
  .m-zeitgeist div#att-latest ol li.l1 { padding-bottom: 9px !important; }
  .m-zeitgeist ol li.footer { clear: both; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; }
  .m-zeitgeist .rank { float: left; margin-left: -15px; }
  .m-zeitgeist .kicker { font-weight: bold; }
  .m-zeitgeist ol li.thumb { padding-left: 0; }
  .m-zeitgeist ol li.thumb .rank { margin-left: 0; }
  .m-zeitgeist ol li img { float: left; margin: 0 10px 3px 0; }
  
  .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist ol li { border-top: none; padding: 0; border-top: none; }  
  .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist ol li .zeit-link {background-color: #fff; padding: 5px 0 9px 5px; border-top: 1px dotted #999; margin-bottom: 0px;  }  
  .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist ol li.footer { border-top:1px dotted #999; padding: 5px 0 9px 10px; margin-left: 5px }  
  .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist .m-zeigeist ol { padding-left: 0}
  
  /* zeit-up */
  .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist .what-is { float: none; padding: 0 3px; vertical-align: middle; cursor: pointer; }
  .about-zeit { position: relative; }
  .zeit-popup { position: absolute; display: none; background-color: #dbedf3; color: #333; padding: 6px; width: 200px; }    

.fade-1 { border-left: 5px solid #D1008B !important;}
.fade-2 { border-left: 5px solid #d8269c !important;}
.fade-3 { border-left: 5px solid #df4dae !important;}
.fade-4 { border-left: 5px solid #e673bf !important;}
.fade-5 { border-left: 5px solid #ed99d1 !important;}

.m-zeitgeist div.hd { padding-bottom: 0; }
.m-zeitgeist.most-viewed div.hd { padding-bottom: 7px; }


</style>

<script type="text/javascript">
jQ(function($){$('.about-zeit').each(function(){var distance=-10;var time=250;var hideDelay=500;var hideDelayTimer=null;var beingShown=false;var shown=false;var trigger=$('.what-is',this);var info=$('.zeit-popup',this).css('opacity',0);$([trigger.get(0),info.get(0)]).mouseover(function(){if(hideDelayTimer)clearTimeout(hideDelayTimer);if(beingShown||shown){return;}else{beingShown=true;info.css({top:-97,right:0,display:'block'}).animate({top:'-='+distance+'px',opacity:1},time,'swing',function(){beingShown=false;shown=true;});}return false;}).mouseout(function(){if(hideDelayTimer)clearTimeout(hideDelayTimer);hideDelayTimer=setTimeout(function(){hideDelayTimer=null;info.animate({top:'-='+distance+'px',opacity:0},time,'swing',function(){shown=false;info.css('display','none');});},hideDelay);return false;});});});
</script>

  <!------ widget old rhs: music : 2011-05-12 10:53:44.828299 ------>
  <div class="m-zeitgeist promo-component four-col attention-data">

    <div class="hd">
    	<h3>On Music</h3>
    </div>
	
  	<div class="bd">
  		<div id="att-toggle">
  			<ul class="tabs">
          <li>
            <a class="active" href="#att-most-viewed">Most viewed</a>
          </li>
          <li>
            <a class="inactive" href="#most-zeitgeist">Zeitgeist</a>
          </li>
          
          <li>
            <a class="inactive" href="#att-latest">Latest</a>
          </li>
          
        </ul>
			 
        <div id="att-panes">
          <div class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane" id="att-most-viewed">
            <p class="b2 zg-date">Last 24 hours</p>
            <ol>
              
              <li class="l1 thumb">
                
                  
                    <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2011/5/11/1305132928528/Lady-Gaga-003.jpg" />
                  
                
                <span class="rank">1.&nbsp;</span>
                
								<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/lady-gaga-carlisle-big-weekend">Lady Gaga, Carlisle won't disappoint you</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">2. </span>
                
								<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/george-michael-gay-children-album-tour">George Michael's new album will be a 'gay collaborative'</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">3. </span>
                
								<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/leeman-brothaz-bankers-rappers">Pass notes No 2,974: Leeman Brothaz</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">4. </span>
                
								<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/10/charanjit-singh-acid-house-ten-ragas">Charanjit Singh on how he invented acid house ... by mistake</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">5. </span>
                
								<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/rakim-hip-hop-preaching-profit">Rakim: still preaching 'not for profit'</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="more-most-viewed l1 footer">
								
									<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/most-viewed/music">More most viewed</a>
								
              </li>
            </ol>
          </div>
        
          <div class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane initially-off" id="most-zeitgeist">
            <p class="b2 zg-date">Last 24 hours</p>
            <ol>
              
              <li class="l1 music fade-1">
                <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/lady-gaga-carlisle-big-weekend">Lady Gaga, Carlisle won't disappoint you</a></div>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1 music fade-2">
                <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/leeman-brothaz-bankers-rappers">Pass notes No 2,974: Leeman Brothaz</a></div>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1 music fade-3">
                <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/george-michael-gay-children-album-tour">George Michael's new album will be a 'gay collaborative'</a></div>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1 music fade-4">
                <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/10/charanjit-singh-acid-house-ten-ragas">Charanjit Singh on how he invented acid house ... by mistake</a></div>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1 music fade-5">
                <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/may/11/noel-gallagher-tyler-creator">Open thread: the best rock putdowns</a></div>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1 footer about-zeit">
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/zeitgeist">More zeitgeist</a>
                <img class="what-is" alt="What is Zeigeist?"  title="" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/microapps/zeitgeist/about-zeitgeist.gif" />
                <div id="zeit-popup" class="zeit-popup">
                 <strong>What is Zeitgeist?</strong>
                  <p>Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news, topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian/2010/feb/03/zeitgeist">our blog post</a>.</p>
                </div>
              </li>
            </ol>
          </div>
        
          
          <div class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane initially-off" id="att-latest">
            <p class="b2 zg-date">Last 24 hours</p>
            <ol>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                  
                
                <span class="rank">1.&nbsp;</span>
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/may/12/thurston-moore-benediction">New music: Thurston Moore – Benediction</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">2. </span>
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/12/beyonce-new-album-title-4">Beyoncé unveils new album title: 4</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">3. </span>
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/mona-mona-review">Mona: Mona – review</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">4. </span>
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/leeman-brothaz-bankers-rappers">Pass notes No 2,974: Leeman Brothaz</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="l1">
                
                <span class="rank">5. </span>
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/lady-gaga-carlisle-big-weekend">Lady Gaga, Carlisle won't disappoint you</a>
              </li>
              
              <li class="more-latest l1 footer">
                <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/all">All today's stories</a>
              </li>
            </ol>
          </div>
          
  
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  
									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											    
	



<div id="guardianmusic" class="promo-component twitter-container" data-fetch-url="http://resource.guim.co.uk/twitter/jsonlist/guardianmusic.jsonp" data-latest-tweet="68612222909300737">
	<div class="hd">
    	<h3>Guardian Music on Twitter</h3>
    </div>
    
<div class="bd">

	<p class="l2">Latest news, views and links from the Guardian's music team</p>




	<ul>
		
			
		        <li class="l1 tweet">
					<a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/290071046/lexbridge3_normal.jpg" alt="LexyTopping"  height="40" width="40" /></a>
					<p><a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping"><strong>LexyTopping:</strong></a> Hmm- maybe relying on live not such a grt idea. Prs: music attendances in eu arenas down 16 percent in 2010 <a href='http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23music'>#music</a></p>
					<span><a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping/statuses/68612222909300737">about 1 hour, 22 minutes ago</a></span>
		        </li>
			
		        <li class="l1 tweet">
					<a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/290071046/lexbridge3_normal.jpg" alt="LexyTopping"  height="40" width="40" /></a>
					<p><a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping"><strong>LexyTopping:</strong></a> Chris carey economist at prs: three albums featured in  top 10 albums of 2009 and 2010. Matter for concern? <a href='http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23music'>#music</a></p>
					<span><a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping/statuses/68611578483834880">about 1 hour, 24 minutes ago</a></span>
		        </li>
			
		        <li class="l1 tweet">
					<a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/290071046/lexbridge3_normal.jpg" alt="LexyTopping"  height="40" width="40" /></a>
					<p><a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping"><strong>LexyTopping:</strong></a> Just arrived in Brighton for the great escape. Tons of panels today inc state of the nation from prs <a href='http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23music'>#music</a></p>
					<span><a href="http://twitter.com/LexyTopping/statuses/68605944283664384">about 1 hour, 47 minutes ago</a></span>
		        </li>
			
		
	</ul>
</div>

<div class="ft">• <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/twitter/list/guardianmusic">Find more tweets from our music team</a><br>• <a href="http://twitter.com/guardian/music-staff">Follow our music team on a Twitter list</a></div>

</div>

	



	


									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
											

	
	
		<div class="reader-offers promo-component">
					<div class="hd">
													<h3>Music  from the Guardian shop</h3>
							</div>
			
			<div class="bd">
				<ul>				
											<li class="inline-pic"><a href="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/GuardianOffers/nmpwmjgy/119325" class="link-image">
							<img src="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/GONMP/customerimages/products/t_nmpwmjgy.jpg" alt="Gardiner's Bach Easter and Whitsun Cantatas " />
						</a></li>
										
											<li><p class="t6"><a href="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/GuardianOffers/nmpwmjgy/119325">Gardiner's Bach Easter and Whitsun Cantatas </a></p></li>
						
											<li><p>Two CD sets taken from John Eliot Gardiner?s landmark recordings with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.</p></li>
						
											<li><p class="price">From: &pound;39.95</p></li>
						
				</ul>
	
			</div>
			<div class="ft">
									<ul>
																					<li><a href="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/departmentpage.cfm/GuardianOffers/_119322/1/Music">More music and Guardian reviewed albums</a></li>
													
																					<li><a href="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/">Browse the Guardian reader offers shop</a></li>
																		</ul>
							</div>
				</div>
	
									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
											

			
	<div class="latest-reviews promo-component">
		<div class="hd">
			<h3>Latest reviews</h3>	
		</div>
		<div class="bd">
												<ul class="two-col">
						<li>
																						<p>
																		
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/11/mona-mona-review"  class="link-text">Mona: Mona – review</a>
    								</p>
																						    


	<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
		if (guardian.r2.browser.isIE6) {
			var forceWidth = 68;
			var forceHeight = 13;
		}
	//]]>
	</script>

	<div class="rating-container">
							<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/star-ratings/promo/2.png" alt="2 out of 5" width="68" height="13" />
			</div>

																						<p>Big rock from the Tennesseans who've been trying Kings of Leon's crown for size. <strong>Dave Simpson</strong> isn't impressed</p>
													</li>
					</ul>
							  															<ul class="l1d two-col edge">
										<li>
													<p>								
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/08/humphrey-lyttelton-cab-kaye-quaye"  class="link-text">Humphrey Lyttelton and Cab Kaye: High Class – review</a>
    </p>
																			    


	<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
		if (guardian.r2.browser.isIE6) {
			var forceWidth = 68;
			var forceHeight = 13;
		}
	//]]>
	</script>

	<div class="rating-container">
							<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/star-ratings/promo/5.png" alt="5 out of 5" width="68" height="13" />
			</div>

											</li>
							  														<li>
													<p>								
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/08/carlos-kleiber-i-am-lost-to-world-review"  class="link-text">Carlos Kleiber: I Am Lost to the World – review</a>
    </p>
																	</li>
							  														<li>
													<p>								
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/08/brahms-tchaikovsky-symphony-3-6-bashmet"  class="link-text">Brahms: Symphony No 3, Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 6 – review</a>
    </p>
																	</li>
							  														<li>
													<p>								
		
	        <a      href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/08/eric-bibb-troubadour-live-review"  class="link-text">Eric Bibb: Troubadour Live – review</a>
    </p>
																			    


	<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
		if (guardian.r2.browser.isIE6) {
			var forceWidth = 68;
			var forceHeight = 13;
		}
	//]]>
	</script>

	<div class="rating-container">
							<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/images/star-ratings/promo/4.png" alt="4 out of 5" width="68" height="13" />
			</div>

											</li>
							  			</ul>
		</div>
		<div class="ft">
			<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/music+tone/albumreview" id="more-reviews-link">More music reviews</a>
		</div>
	</div>

									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
        <title>TixDaq</title>
    
	
</head>
<body>
    <style>
        .g-tickets img {
												float: left;
												margin-right: 10px;
								}
        .g-tickets li {
												margin-top: 10px;
								}
        .g-tickets li p,
        .g-tickets li form,
								.g-tickets .book-link {
												margin-left: 70px;
								}
        .g-tickets .event-name {
												border-top: 1px dotted #999;
												width: 210px;
												padding-top: 5px;
												font-weight: bold;
								}
        .g-tickets.component .event-name {
												width: 229px;
								}
        .g-tickets .book-link {
												margin-top: 3px;
								}
        .g-tickets .strapline {
												margin: -10px 0 20px 0;
								}
        .g-tickets.component .find-tickets {
												width: 300px;
								}
        .g-tickets .find-tickets {
												border-top: 1px dotted #999;
												margin-top: 20px;
												padding-top: 5px;
												float: left;
												width: 100%;
								}
        .g-tickets .search-tickets {
												display: block;
								}
        .g-tickets .find-tickets input {
												margin: 20px 0;
								}
        .g-tickets,
								.g-tickets li,
								.g-tickets .browse-tickets {
												float: left;
								}

									/* r3 */
        .news-grid .g-tickets .hd {
												margin-bottom: 0;
												min-height: 18px;
												width: 300px;
												padding-bottom: 0;
								}
        .news-grid .g-tickets .bd {
												float: left;
												background-color: #ededed;
												padding: 0 5px 20px;
												width: 290px;
								}
        .news-grid .g-tickets .strapline {
												margin-bottom: 10px;
												margin-top: 0;
								}
        .news-grid .g-tickets .event-name {
												width: 219px;
								}        
								.news-grid .g-tickets .browse-tickets {
												width: 100%;
												}

								/* ie7  */
								.news-grid .g-tickets {
												overflow: hidden;
								}
    </style>

    <div class="g-tickets promo-component">
        <div class="hd"><h3>Buy tickets for top music events</h3></div>
    <div class="bd">
        <p class="strapline">Compare and buy tickets for thousands of events</p>
        <ol>
            <li>
                <a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/george-michael-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411"><img alt="George Michael" src="http://maxcdn.tixdaq.com/theme/img/metadata/attraction/120x120/6440.png" height="60" width="60" class="image" /></a>
                <p class="event-name"><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/george-michael-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">George Michael</a></p>
                <p><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/george-michael-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Tuesday, 25 Oct, 2011</a></p>
                <p><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/george-michael-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Royal Albert Hall - London</a></p>
																<form action="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/george-michael-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411" method="GET">
																				<input value="Book" type="submit" />
								        </form>
            </li><li>
                <a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/kings-of-leon-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411"><img alt="Kings Of Leon" src="http://maxcdn.tixdaq.com/theme/img/metadata/attraction/120x120/2038.png" height="60" width="60" class="image" /></a>
                <p class="event-name"><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/kings-of-leon-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Kings Of Leon</a></p>
                <p><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/kings-of-leon-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Saturday, 28 May, 2011</a></p>
                <p><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/kings-of-leon-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Slane Castle - Slane</a></p>
																<form action="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/kings-of-leon-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411" method="GET">
																				<input value="Book" type="submit" />
								        </form>
            </li><li>
                <a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/reading-festival-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411"><img alt="Reading Festival" src="http://maxcdn.tixdaq.com/theme/img/metadata/attraction/120x120/12236.png" height="60" width="60" class="image" /></a>
                <p class="event-name"><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/reading-festival-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Reading Festival</a></p>
                <p><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/reading-festival-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Wednesday, 24 Aug, 2011</a></p>
                <p><a href="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/reading-festival-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411">Richfield Avenue - Reading</a></p>
																<form action="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/reading-festival-tickets/?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411" method="GET">
																				<input value="Book" type="submit" />
								        </form>
            </li>
        </ol>

        <form action="http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/search" method="GET" class="find-tickets">

        <a href="http://guardiantickets.co.uk/music?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411" class="search-tickets">Tickets to more music events</a>
            <input value="ILCCULTXT3411" name="INTCMP" type="hidden" />
            <input onfocus="this.value='';" value="Search..." name="q" id="search-query" />
            <input value="Find tickets" type="SUBMIT" />
        <a href="http://guardiantickets.co.uk?INTCMP=ILCCULTXT3411" class="browse-tickets">Browse tickets</a>
        </form>
								
        <script type="text/javascript">
												jQ('div.g-tickets form.find-tickets').submit(function(){
                var submitUrl = 'http://www.guardiantickets.co.uk/search/' + encodeURI(jQ('#search-query').val())
                document.location.href= submitUrl;
                return false;
												});
        </script>        

    </div>
    </div>
    
	
</body>
</html>  
  
									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
											

			
			<div class="promo-component gu-now">
			<div class="hd">
				<h3>Latest news on guardian.co.uk</h3>
			</div>
			<div class="bd">
			<p id="gu-now-last-updated">
				    
	                         Last updated less than one minute ago 
            
			</p>
			<ul class="l1d">
									<li>
						<h4><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">News</a></h4>
						<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/12/osama-bin-laden-new-9-11-middle-east">Bin Laden wanted 'new 9/11' to force US retreat</a></p>					</li>
							</ul>
		</div>
	</div>

									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											    <style>
	.m-guardianbookshop .rank { float: left; margin-left: -15px; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .thumb .rank { margin-left: 0; }
	.m-guardianbookshop h4 { border-top: none !important; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 5px !important; padding: 5px 0 8px 0 !important; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .bestsellers { background-color: #fff; padding-bottom: 17px;}
	.m-guardianbookshop ol { padding: 0 5px; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .l1 { clear: both; padding-left: 15px; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .thumb { padding-left: 0; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .thumb img { float: left; margin: 2px 10px 9px 0;}
	.m-guardianbookshop .price { display: inline; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .thumb .price { display: block; }
	.m-guardianbookshop .rank, .m-guardianbookshop .book-title { font-weight: bold; }
	.m-guardianbookshop input { border: 1px solid #999; width: 75%; min-height: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 3px 2px;}
</style>

<div class="m-guardianbookshop promo-component">
    <div class="hd">
	    <h3>
			<a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk"><img src="http://resource.guim.co.uk/global/static/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgu-books.appspot.com%2Fimg%2Flogo-guardian-bookshop.png" alt="Guardian Bookshop" title="" /></a>
		</h3>
    </div>
    <div class="bd">
	    <div class="bestsellers">
	        <h4>This week's bestsellers</h4>
	        <ol>
	            
	            <li class="l1 thumb">
	                
                        
						<img src="http://resource.guim.co.uk/books/gubookshop/thumbnail/images.bertrams.com/ProductImages/services/GetImage?Source=BERT&amp;Quality=WEB&amp;EAN13=9781847771292&amp;Component=FRONTCOVER" title="I Found it at the Movies" />
                        
					
					<span class="rank">1.&nbsp;</span>
					<a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781847771292" class="book-title">I Found it at the Movies</a>
	                <p>
                        
	                        by Philip French
                        
                        
                        <span class="price">£19.95</span>
                        
	                </p>
	            </li>
	            
	            <li class="l1">
	                
					<span class="rank">2.&nbsp;</span>
					<a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781848091764" class="book-title">Further Adventures of a Grumpy Old Rock Star</a>
	                <p>
                        
	                        by Rick Wakeman
                        
                        
                        <span class="price">£8.99</span>
                        
	                </p>
	            </li>
	            
	            <li class="l1">
	                
					<span class="rank">3.&nbsp;</span>
					<a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780977990313" class="book-title">Are We Still Rolling?</a>
	                <p>
                        
	                        by Phill Brown
                        
                        
                        <span class="price">£12.99</span>
                        
	                </p>
	            </li>
	            
	            <li class="l1">
	                
					<span class="rank">4.&nbsp;</span>
					<a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780297854395" class="book-title">Life</a>
	                <p>
                        
	                        by Keith Richards
                        
                        
                        <span class="price">£20.00</span>
                        
	                </p>
	            </li>
	            
	            <li class="l1">
	                
					<span class="rank">5.&nbsp;</span>
					<a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781843547167" class="book-title">This is Your Brain on Music</a>
	                <p>
                        
	                        by Daniel Levitin
                        
                        
                        <span class="price">£8.99</span>
                        
	                </p>
	            </li>
	            
	        </ol>
		</div>
	    <div class="search">
	        <p>
	            Search the Guardian bookshop
	        </p>
	        <form method="POST" action="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/search.do" name="QuickSearchForm">
	            <input type="text" class="searchBox" value="" name="keyword">
	            <button class="searchBtn" type="submit">
	                <span class="searchText">Search</span>
	            </button>
	            <input type="hidden" value="" name="author">
	        </form>
	    </div>
    </div>
</div>

									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
														
	
	
	
		
					
				<div class="promo-component json-features x31 four-col" style="display: none;">
		<div class="hd">
			<h3>Sponsored feature</h3>
		</div>
		<div class="bd inline-pic">
			<a href="" class="link-image"><img width="130" height="121" alt="" /></a>
								        
    
		
		<div id="x31" class=" hide-on-popup">

		
            
                        										        	<script>
			//<![CDATA[
			OAS_AD('x31');
			//]]>
		</script>
    				                    
        </div>

    			<script>
                jQ(document).ready(function() {
                    if (window.sponJSON) {
                        if(typeof(sponJSON) === 'object') {
                          adx31 = sponJSON;
                          var node = jQ('.json-features.x31');
                          convertJSONtoAd(
                              node.find('img:first-child'),
                              node.find('a.t6'),
                              node.find('p:last-child'),
                              adx31,
                              node.find('.hd').children().eq(0),
                              'x31'
                          );
                        }
                    }
                });
			</script>
			<a href="" class="t6"></a>
			<p></p>
		</div>
	</div>

									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											    
<div class="promo-component four-col edge jobs-box">
	<div class="hd">
		<a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">
			<img src="http://resource.guim.co.uk/global/jobsbox/public/images/guardianjobs.gif" alt="guardian jobs">
		</a>
			</div>
	
	
	<div class="bd">
			<!--Country code: UK-->

						
							<!-- UK Jobs box version: 2-->
				
					
									<p class="jobs-categories-overview b2">Find the latest jobs in your sector:</p>

<ul class="column first">
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/arts/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Arts & heritage</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/charity/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Charities</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/education/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Education</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/environment/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Environment</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/government/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Government</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/graduate/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Graduate</a></li>
</ul>
<ul class="column ">
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/jobs/health/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Health</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/marketing/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Marketing & PR</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/media/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Media</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/jobs/sales">Sales</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/jobs/senior-executive/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Senior executive</a></li>
	<li class="b3"><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/social-care/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Social care</a></li>
</ul>
<p class="browse-all-jobs b3">
	<a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">Browse all jobs</a>
</p>

<form id="search-jobs-form" class="b2" action="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/searchjobs/?INTCMP=JB2_MUSIC">
	<fieldset>
		<input type="text" onfocus="this.value='';" value="music" name="keyword" id="freetext-searchalljobs" class="text plain-search"/>
		<input type="hidden" value="JB2_MUSIC" name="INTCMP"/>
		<input type="submit" value="Search" name="go" class="submit"/>
	</fieldset>
</form>
					
                				<div class="featured-job">
					<a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4288787/director-of-music-north-trading/?INTCMP=ILCJOBTXT1063" class="featured-image">
						<img src="http://resource.guim.co.uk/global/jobsbox/thumbnail/28001?u=488459793" alt=""/>
					</a>
					<div>
						<h4><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4288787/director-of-music-north-trading/?INTCMP=ILCJOBTXT1063">Director of Music North Trading</a></h4>
						<p>Tyne &amp; Wear  | Unspecified </p>
						<p><a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/employer/217285/the-sage-gateshead/">THE SAGE GATESHEAD</a></p>
					</div>
				</div>
                						
	</div>
</div>

									
							        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
											



									
							        

    	    





		
										

        		
		
												
										
											
											                    
    
	
		
												    	    





		
										

        


									
							        


	    	    





		
										

        


	</div>

			    
	    	    





		
										

        		
		
												
										
						
											    <div class="related-content eight-col component">
    
    <div class="hd">
        <h3>Related information</h3>
    </div>
    <div class="bd">
        <div class="two-col">

            <div class="related-keywords">
                <h4 class="t6 b4"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Culture</a></h4>
                <ul>
                    
                </ul>
                
            </div><div class="related-keywords">
                <h4 class="t6 b3"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Music</a></h4>
                <ul>
                    <li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/akon?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Akon</a> &middot; </li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/urban?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Urban music</a> &middot; </li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/popandrock?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Pop and rock</a> &middot; </li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/r-and-b?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">R&B</a></li>
                </ul>
                
            </div>
            
        </div>


        <div class="two-col">
            <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2010/sep/09/15-years-mobo-awards" class="related-content-image">
                <img alt="Mobos 15 years: Kanya King and the Blairs" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2010/9/9/1284053063147/So-Solid-Crew-001.jpg" class="gallery-mask" />
            </a>

            <p class="t6">
                (15 pictures)
                <a class="related-content-headline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2010/sep/09/15-years-mobo-awards?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Fifteen years of the Mobo awards</a>
            </p>

            <p class="t6 related-content-publication-date">10 Sep 2010</p>

            <p class="related-content-trail-text">This year sees the 15th anniversary of the Mobo awards. Here, we celebrate the event's legacy with pictures from the past decade and a half</p>

            <a class="l1 related-content-footer" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/inpictures?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">More galleries</a>
        </div>

         <div class="two-col">
            <ul class="l1d">
                <li>
                    <p class="t6 related-content-publication-date">31 Oct 2008</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a class="related-content-headline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/oct/31/akon-john-mccain-elections?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Akon promises to leave the US if McCain is president</a>
                    </p>
                </li><li>
                    <p class="t6 related-content-publication-date">8 Jun 2007</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a class="related-content-headline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/jun/08/akon?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Akon assaulted by pretzel, flavour as yet unknown</a>
                    </p>
                </li><li>
                    <p class="t6 related-content-publication-date">28 Apr 2008</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a class="related-content-headline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/apr/28/news.michaeljackson?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Jackson bans women to concentrate on new album</a>
                    </p>
                </li><li>
                    <p class="t6 related-content-publication-date">11 Sep 2007</p>
                    <p class="t7">
                        <a class="related-content-headline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/sep/11/popandrock.akon?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Britney Spears at the VMAs: the moment the world changed, forever</a>
                    </p>
                </li>
            </ul>
        </div>

        <div class="two-col edge">
            <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/08/capital-fm-akon" class="related-content-image">
                <img alt="Akon" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2008/11/27/akon-copy-3.jpg" />
            </a>

            <p class="t6">
                
                <a class="related-content-headline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/08/capital-fm-akon?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487">Capital FM signs up R&amp;B star Akon</a>
            </p>

            <p class="t6 related-content-publication-date">8 Feb 2010</p>

            <p class="related-content-trail-text">Grammy-nominated singer Akon to present Saturday evening show on 95.8 Capital FM, Global Radio's London music station. By John Plunkett</p>

            
        </div>


    </div>
</div>  
  
									
							        



		


			    
    	    





		
										

        


	    
	
	                    

<div class="crumb-wrapper global">

    
    
                    <ul class="crumb-nav">
                <li id="crumb1">			<span>
		
	        Hot topics
    </span>
	</li>
            </ul>
            
        <ul class="local-nav">
            		   							<li           
            
            class='first'
>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/sxsw" >SXSW 2011</a>
					</li>
				            		   							<li       
            
        
>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/sxsw/listing/index" >SXSW artist A-Z</a>
					</li>
				            		   							<li       
            
        
>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/glastonbury" >Glastonbury</a>
					</li>
				            		   							<li       
            
        
>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/music+tone/albumreview" >Album reviews</a>
					</li>
				            		   							<li           
            
            class=' last'
>
																		<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/music+tone/livemusicreview" >Live music reviews</a>
					</li>
				                    </ul>
    
</div>


<div id="footer" class="culture footer b4">
			
	<ul id="footer-links">
					<li><a href="http://syndication.guardian.co.uk/" >License/buy our content</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="/Users/help/article/0,,933905,00.html">Privacy policy</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="/Users/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms &amp; conditions</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility">Accessibility</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/subjects/a">A-Z index</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian">Inside guardian.co.uk blog</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="/Guardian/information/0,,711853,00.html">About guardian.co.uk</a> | </li>
			<li><a href="http://dating.guardian.co.uk/s/">Join our dating site today</a></li>
			</ul>
        
    <ul id="copyright-links">
    				<li>guardian.co.uk &copy; Guardian News and Media Limited 2011</li>
					    </ul>
</div>

    	    





		
										

        



</div>
	    


    		<script id="omnitureGeneratorScript" type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[
	if(true) {
		var s_account="guardiangu-music,guardiangu-network";
		writeScript('http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/scripts/omniture-H.22.2.js', false, function(){});
	}
	//]]>
	</script>

	<script id="omnitureScript" type="text/javascript">


	//<![CDATA[
	if(true) {
		if (false) {
		    s.pageName = document.title;
		} else {
			s.pageName="CD review: Akon: Freedom:Article:1125091";
		}
		s.channel = "Music";
		s.pageType="";
		s.server='04';
		s.prop2='GUID:(none)';

					s['prop3']="Guardian";
					s['prop4']="Akon,Urban music (Music genre),Pop and rock (Music genre),Music,Culture,R and B (contemporary music genre)";
					s['prop5']="Pop Music,Not commercially useful";
					s['prop6']="Caroline Sullivan";
					s['prop7']="09-Aug-19";
					s['prop8']="1125091";
					s['prop9']="Article";
					s['prop10']="Album review,Review";
					s['prop11']="Music";
					s['prop13']="";
					s['prop25']="";
					s['prop30']="content";
		
		s.hier2="GU/Music/Akon";
		s.events="";
		s.eVar23="";

		try {
			if (guardian.r2.OmnitureTrackingOverride) {
				new guardian.r2.OmnitureTrackingOverride(s);
			}
		}
		catch(err) {
		}

        if(jQ.cookie("GU_OMNITURE") !== null) {
            s.events = jQ.cookie("GU_OMNITURE");
            jQ.cookie("GU_OMNITURE", null, { path: '/', domain: '.guardian.co.uk'});
        }

        var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code);
	}
	//]]>
	</script>
	<noscript id="omnitureNoScript">
		<div><img alt="" src='http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-music,guardiangu-network/1/H.22.2/3255?ns=guardian&pageName=CD+review%3A+Akon%3A+Freedom%3AArticle%3A1125091&ch=Music&c3=Guardian&c4=Akon%2CUrban+music+%28Music+genre%29%2CPop+and+rock+%28Music+genre%29%2CMusic%2CCulture%2CR+and+B+%28contemporary+music+genre%29&c5=Pop+Music%2CNot+commercially+useful&c6=Caroline+Sullivan&c7=09-Aug-19&c8=1125091&c9=Article&c10=Album+review%2CReview&c11=Music&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMusic%2FAkon&c2=GUID:(none)' width="1" height="1" /></div>
	</noscript>


<script id="componentTrackingScript" type="text/javascript">
if (true) {
    jQ(document).ready(function () {
        jQ('a[data-cpt]').each(
            function () {
            jQ(this).click(
                function () {
                var cpId = jQ(this).attr('data-cpt').split("-")[1];
                var currentLink = jQ(this).attr('href');

                if (currentLink.indexOf('intcmp=') == -1) {
                    if(currentLink.indexOf('?') == -1) {
                        var separator = '?'
                    } else {
                        var separator = '&'
                    }

                    jQ(this).attr('href', currentLink + separator + "intcmp=" + cpId);
                }
            });
        });
    });
}
</script>
	    
	<script type="text/javascript">
	//<![CDATA[

	if(true) {
		ensurePackage("guardian.r2.revsci");

		guardian.r2.revsci.cookieDomain = '.guardian.co.uk';
		guardian.r2.revsci.gu_geo_country = 'ukr';
		guardian.r2.revsci.siteName = 'Music';
					guardian.r2.revsci.commercialFolder = 'Pop+Music'
				
		addEvent(null, 'load', function () {
			writeScript('http://js.revsci.net/gateway/gw.js?csid=E05516', true, function() {
				writeScript('http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/scripts/revsci.js', true, function() {
					rs_initTracking();
				})
			})
		});
	}

	// ]]>
	</script>

	<noscript>
		<div><img src="http://pix01.revsci.net/E05516/a3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/noscript.gif" alt="" /></div>
	</noscript>





<span id="Panel_Content" class="initially-off"></span>
<script type="text/javascript">
	//	<![CDATA[
	if(true) {
        var OAS_taxonomy='&Paneled_Site=guardian.co.uk&Paneled_Section=music';
		jQ(document).ready(function(){
			jQ.getScript('http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/scripts/kantarmedia.js');
		});
	}
	// ]]>
</script>
		
<script type="text/javascript">
if (typeof MatchingEngine == 'undefined') {
    document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='http://static.guim.co.uk/static/104477/common/external-scripts/mvt/cm_lib_compressed.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
}
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
	//	<![CDATA[
	if(true) {
        		jQ(function() {
            MatchingEngine.logEvent('article','id=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom');
		});
	}
	// ]]>
</script>

</body>
</html>
